Turkey does not support the European Union’s plan to close the Russian gas faucet and threatens Brussels’ efforts to be detached from Moscow’s energy.

Turkey acts as a mediator for Russian energy in Europe, however, the EU is making plans for detachment by the end of 2027. Brussels seek to enforce More monitoring requirementsin order to better identify the way in which he continues to enters the Russian gas In the EU, however, this system will probably need information from basic transit countries, such as Turkey. And Ankara does not seem willing to work together.

“While the EU may decide – or no – to ban the introduction of Russian gas, Turkey considers that the unilateral sanctions (in Moscow) may disturb the economy and to intensify concerns for all energy security of all ‘, The Turkish Foreign Ministry reports in Politico. “The Turkish Republic only applies sanctions approved by the United Nations Security Council”he points out.

This reluctance, warning experts, could create a windowthat will allow the Russian natural gas to keep flowing In the block unnoticed.

In addition, this attitude also reflects Ankara’s relations with Brussels, which remain low, especially after the Turkish opposition.

“Turkey’s reluctance to comply with EU monitoring provisions could create challenges to effective application of the proposed regulationespecially because of its growing role as a transit and potential node for Russian gas »Notes Wil Ninistos, Greens MEP and former Finnish Minister of Environment, who is leading the European Parliament’s work on the bill.

Entrance from the back door

Three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU is still trying to completely detached from Moscow’s energy and discontinue the main source of revenue of the Kremlin.

By 2022, the EU has gradually discontinued all maritime markets of Russian oil and carbon, and has reduced gas imports by about 2/3. However, he continued to buy important quantities of LNG from Moscowas well as limited amounts of energy through pipelines.

In June, Brussels presented a proposal of law for her Tackling these importsforeseeing a gradual universal ban aimed at abolishing long -term agreements to the 2027.

To do this, the European Commission seeks to watches better the energy importsasking companies importing Russian gas to deliver “all relevant information” required to evaluate fuel origin, including supply contracts.

However, identifying the origin of the flows is extremely difficultas there is no way to confirmed with certainty where does the combustible. In addition, the relevant contracts are confidential and fuel frequently pass through many intermediaries before they reach the final destination.

The proposed rules do not impose any legal obligation on Turkey, as they are not a member of the EU. However, since contracts do not always clarify the origin of the fuel, European companies may need to request that they need to request additional information Of their Turkish partners, if they want to continue importing natural gas, according to a senior ICIS consulting company.

This is especially important for the Strandzha-Malkoclar cross-border point, which connects Turkey with Bulgaria, explains Aura Sampados.

According to the 2023 agreement, the Bulgarian company Bulgargaz It may order liquefied natural gas (LNG) loads at Turkish terminals, which are then delivered to the Turkish state company Botaş and returned to Bulgargaz at the EU border.

The problem is that “We do not know if the gas delivered to Bulgaria is the same as the one that reaches Turkey’s terminals‘, The Sampados notes, stressing that the EU cannot be sure that it has not been involved with other supplies.

Given the lowest price of Russian gas, there is ‘there’high risk»Much of this fuel to be of Russian originadds, noting that the same applies to smaller interface of gardensbetween Greece and Turkey.

Last year the EU introduced 1.9 billion cubic feet gas measures Through these two routes, according to the ENTSO-G platform. And the number that could reach 5.4 billion, according to the Shampados. Although compared to the 150 billion cubic meters that Russia once exported to the EU, it still corresponds to approximately the 1/5 of total imports of the block through conductor by the Moscow last year.

The game of cat and mouse

Basic bodies carrying natural gas through Turkish borders argue that flows are already strictly monitoredalthough experts remain cautious.

A Bulgargaz spokesman told Politico that under the 2023 agreement, the state company only provides transit services and not sellinginsisting that it closely monitors the origin of the flows.

The problem is that “Turkey has no strong motivation to comply” With the bill, as its relations with the EU are at its lowest level, according to Mehmet Ogoutsu, Managing Director of Consulting Company Global Resources Partnership and former Turkish diplomat.

Therefore, Brussels may need to offer motivationsuch as the re -opening of frozen conversations for energylinked to Turkey’s accession course in the EU. Another possible option is chapter by European Investment Bank For green projects, according to Ogoutsos.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, however, told Politico that it was “willing to work with the EU on energy issues”, but stressed that it also depends on the EU’s willingness to work with Ankara.

According to the sabant, there is a “high chance” Ankara “cooks“The content customs documents -As it is alleged to have done with Russian oil missions to the EU.

“What kind of jurisdiction does the EU have over Turkey? They cannot control Turkish customs … They cannot control the Turkish government, they have zero jurisdiction. “ He stresses.